BRONZE BY A WHISKER

VAN NIEKERK: SEASONED STAR 'GRATEFUL' TO BE PART OF THE RELAY RUN

- Wesley Botton

The joy in the South African team was evident in their post-race interview yesterday, with even the most accomplished athlete in the national squad, Wayde van Niekerk, grinning from ear to ear after the SA 4x400m relay quartet grabbed the bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships.

Heading into the final session in Tokyo, the country had still not secured a medal, with multiple medal contenders missing out in what had been a relatively disappointing all-round effort.

Offering some relief, however, Lythe Pillay, Udeme Okon, Wayde van Niekerk and Zakithi Nene combined well to complete the four-lap race in 2:57.83.